Dawn of Love

Ch. 1

"Tyler, please, I don't have time for this!" I plead, my hand gripping the phone tightly while the other shakes on the steering wheel. I'm trying to hold back tears. I can't let them blur my vision any worse than the heavy rain that's pounding the windshield of my car. Why did this happen?

"No! Craig, come back to the house. We can talk about this," Tyler asked. I can hear the strain in his voice. I can practically see the pained expression on his face. It's not real. He just feels guilty.

"I - I can't." Great, now the tears fall. I let go of the wheel to try and quickly wipe them away.

Silence. Why is it so quiet all of a sudden? Did the rain stop?

"CRAIG!"

...

Bright. Why is it so bright? Did I leave the blinds open last night?

Groaning, I turn over onto my side, lifting myself upright. Ugh, why am I so sore all over? My body feels so stiff and my head feels like it's been split open. I lift my hand to check. Wait. Looking down at my hand, my eyes widen as I see,"Blood?"

No. No, why am I bleeding? What's going on?

I look around quickly, trying to blink to get the bright light out of my eyes. It's the sun, but shouldn't my bedroom walls be blocking it? I'm not in my bedroom. Above me is a blue sky, clear, and trees are towering overhead. I'm outside.

"Ok, very funny! Who pranked me? Where's the camera?" I call out. I know one of the guys are around here somewhere, holding a camera. It's probably not even real blood on my head. Just ketchup or some of that weird Hollywood fake blood. Either way, I need to find my phone.

"Ah! What the -" I can't move. There's a severe pain in my lower leg. Why is it twisted like that? What exactly happened to me? Ok...this isn't a prank. This...I don't know what this is. Where the hell am I?

"Hello? Hello! Can somewhere hear me?" My throat hurts from yelling. Ugh, I feel like shit. Ok, breathe Craig, breathe. Try to remember. Ok,in to...last night, I was - I was driving and then -. And then what?

Snap!

"Hello?" I whip my head around to look over my shoulder. That was from behind me. Someone must be out here. Maybe they can help. "Please! Whoever you are, I think I'm injured! Hello?" Why aren't they answering me? Unless...oh no. Please tell me it's not a bear or some other giant predator come to eat me.

"Shush!"

"Hello? Who's there?" A person! Oh thank god!

"I said to be quiet!" they whisper. Why are they whispering? "Who are you? State why you are here!" Guess I better whisper back.

"Please, I think my leg is broken! I was driving home last night and, I can't remember what happen, but I woke up stranded here. Can you help me?" I ask. I can't see them behind me. The bushes are too thick.

"Are you able to move at all?" they ask. I look down at my leg. It's mangled as fuck from what I can tell. I try to move it but the pain is too much.

"I-I can't," I whisper to them through gritted teeth. Fuck, it hurts like hell! I hear the bushes rustle. They must be moving. "Wait, please don't leave me!" A hand clamps down over my mouth.

"I will not leave you," the voice whispers still, a lot closer. I feel their breath against my ear, "but you have to stay silent. It's dangerous in these parts of the forest." Wait, did they say a forest? Just where the fuck am I? I'm sure I was leaving from Evan's house last night, right? It was...it was... - why can't I remember?